Sectional tap connector



Sept. 5, 1967 w. TEAGNO ETAL SECTIONAL TAP CONNECTOR 2 SheetsSheet 1Filed Sept. 8, 1966 p 6 w. TEAGNO ETAL SECTIONAL TAP CONNECTOR 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept.

United States Patent 3,340,352 SECTIONAL TAP CONNECTOR Wladimiro Teagnoand Franco Trevisiol, Turin, Italy, assignors to AMP Incorporated,Harrisburg, Pa. Filed Sept. 8, 1966, Ser. No. 577,959 Claims priority,application Italy, Sept. 11, 1965, 20,233/ 65 8 Claims. (Cl. 174-94)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A connector assembly having a plurality ofconnector elements held in side-iby-side relationship by holding means,the connector elements having apertures in alignment defining apassageway for receiving a tap conductor therein and slots in alignmentdefining another passageway for engaging a section of a line conductor,the connector assembly, upon crimping pressure being applied thereto,being crimped onto the tap conductor and section of the line conductorthereby effecting an electrical and mechanical connection therebetween.

This invention relates to electrical connectors and is particularlyconcerned with a tap connector for securing the end of a tap-lead to acontinuous lead at an intermediate point in a single crimping operation.

An electrical connector according to the present invention comprises aplurality of relatively fiat members arranged in a side-by-side manner,each member being for-med with a pair of spaced apertures, at least oneof the apertures opening to an edge of the member to define a slot, andtie means extending through the members for securing them inside-by-side relationship with respective apertures aligned to definepassageways through the connector.

Consequently, it is an object of this invention to provide a spliceconnector for connecting a tap conductor to an intermediate point of anexisting conductor line.

Another object is to provide a splice connector wherein a plurality offlat members are arranged in a side-by-side manner to form theconnector.

Still another object is to provide connector tie means extending throughthe flat members for securing them in a side-by-side relationship.

Other objects and attainments of the present invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the followingdetailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings inwhich there are shown and described preferred embodiments of theinvention; it is to be understood, however, that these embodiments arenot intended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention, but aregiven for purposes of illustration in order that others skilled in theart may more fully understand the invention and the principles thereofand the manner of applying it in practical use so that they may modifyit in various forms, each as may be best suited to the conditions of theparticular use.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded and perspective view of one connectorembodiment;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded and perspective view of a second embodiment;

FIGURE 2A is a fragmentary longitudinal cross section of the connectorof FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded and perspective view of a third embodiment;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded and perspective view of a fourth embodiment; and

3,340,352 Patented Sept. 5, 1967 FIGURE 5 is an exploded and perspectiveview of a fifth embodiment.

The connector illustrated in FIGURE 1 comprises a series of identicalflat members 1 formed by stamping from flat stock and each comprising anaperture 2 and a U-shaped slot 3. Intermediate the slot and theaperture, each member is formed with a pair of spaced bores 4 forslidably receiving tie rods 5 arranged to extend longitudin-ally of theconnector to secure the flat members 1 together. The tie rods 5 serve toalign apertures 2. and slots 3 of the flat members to define in theconnector an open slot 6 for receiving a line conductor intermediate theends of the line, and a passage 7 for receiving the end of a tapconductor.

The connector is crimped about a pair of conductors (not shown) to closethe sidewalls of the slot 6 about the line conductor and to compress theconnector about the line and tap conductors to effect a secureelectrical and mechanical connection between the line and the tap.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 2 the slots 3" in alternate members are lessdeep than in the other members so that a stepped floor to the slot 6 isdefined as seen in FIGURE 2A. Upon crimping, the line conductor isdeformed around the stepped floor in corrugated manner to effect animproved connection.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 3, alternate sides of slots 3 of successivemembers are cut away at 3" so that upon crimping, the sides 3' of themembers are folded over the line conductor and extend toward or engagerespective sides 3".

In the embodiment of FIGURE 4, the slots 3 are open at sides of themembers 1 to define a C-shaped slot 7 extending along a side of theconnector.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 5, the slots 3 are similarly formed as thoseof the FIGURE 4 embodiment and are of C-shape. Alternate members 1 arearranged with sides 3A of the slots on an opposite side of the connectorto those of the other members 1. The members 1 are secured together by asleeve 8 slidable through the passage 7 so that the members 1 arerotatable about the sleeves.

In operation, the connector is assembled to a line conductor by rotatingthe members 1 in opposite senses about the sleeve to open all of theslots 3 upwardly. The members 3 are then hooked over the line andreturned to the FIGURE 5 condition. The connector is thus supported onthe line against inadvertent dislodgement. The tap conductor is theninserted in the sleeve 8 and the connector crimped to compress themembers 1 around the line and the tap conductors.

Changes in construction will occur to those skilled in the art andvarious apparently different modifications and embodiments may be madewithout departing from the scope of the invention. The matter set forthin the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by wayof illustration only. The actual scope of the invention is intended tobe defined in the following claims when viewed in their properperspective against the prior art.

What is claimed is:

1. A connector assembly for connecting a tap con ductor to a section ofa line conductor comprising a plurality of flat connector membersarranged side-by-side, tie means engaging said connector members therebyholding said connector members side-by-side and forming said connectorassembly, each of said connector members having an aperture and a slot,the apertures and the slots defining respectively a closed passagewayfor receiving said tap conductor and an open passageway for engagementwith said section of said line conductor, said connector assembly, uponcrimping pressure being applied thereto, being crimped onto said tapconductor and said section of said line conductor thereby efiecting anelectrical and mechanical connection therebetween.

2. A connector assembly for connecting a tap conductor to a lineconductor comprising a series of connector elements in side-*by-sidepositions, said connector elements having apertures and slots with saidapertures being in alignment defining a first passageway for receivingsaid tap conductor therein and said slots being in alignment defining asecond passageway for engaging a section of said line conductor, andconnecting means engaging said connector elements thereby maintainingthese elements in the side-by-side positions forming said connectorassembly for crimping onto said section of said line conductor and saidtap conductor and efiecting an electrical and mechanical connectiontherebetween.

3. A connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein all of themembers are identical.

4. A connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slot is ofC-form open to a side of the said connector assembly.

5. A connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein some of themembers are oppositely arranged with respect to the other members andall of the members are pivotal about the tie means.

6. A connector assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tie meanscomprises a sleeve slidably extending through said closed pasageway.

7. A connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slots are ofgenerally U-form and each member at one side of the slot is cut away todefine on the other side of the slot an upstanding arm, alternatemembers oppositely arranged relative to the other members so that uponthe application of the crimping pressure arms of alternate members nestbetween the arms of adjacent members at the opposite side of theconnector assembly.

8. A connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slots ofalternate members are less deep than the slots of the remaining membersso that the floor of the passage defined by the slots is stepped toprovide a corrugated crimp when said section of said line conductor iscrimped therein.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,455,330 5/1923 Fordyce.3,115,540 12/1963 Greer l74--71 DARRELL L. CLAY, Primary Examiner.

2. A CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY FOR CONNECTING A TAP CONDUCTOR TO A LINECONDUCTOR COMPRISING A SERIES OF CONNECTOR ELEMENTS IN SIDE-BY-SIDEPOSITIONS, SAID CONNECTOR ELEMENTS HAVING APERTURES AND SLOTS WITH SAIDAPERTURES BEING IN ALIGNMENT DEFINING A FIRST PASSAGEWAY FOR RECEIVINGSAID TAP CONDUCTOR THEREIN AND SAID SLOTS BEING IN ALIGNMENT DEFINING ASECOND PASSAGEWAY FOR ENGAGING A SECTION OF SAID LINE CONDUCTOR, SAIDCONNECTING MEANS ENGAGING SAID CONNECTOR ELEMENTS THEREBY MAINTAININGTHESE ELEMENTS IN THE SIDE-BY-SIDE POSITIONS FORMING SAID CONNECTORASSEMBLY FOR CRIMPING ONTO SAID SECTON OF SAID LINE CONDUCTOR AND SAIDTAP CONDUCTOR AND EFFECTING AN ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL CONNECTIONTHEREBETWEEN.